Rosy-fingered dawn

The dawn now spreads its rosy dew

Hymn, Saturday Lauds

Benedictine Daily Prayer

We have had several days of bone-chilling cold and rain – down to the high-forties and only up to the mid-sixties.

But this morning dawned with promises of sun and warmth.

As I stopped to take some photos I recalled my Greek classes in high school, where we learned Greek starting with Homer. Homer, in the Odyssey, sings of ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς, the rosy-fingered dawn – and so it was.

Later the rising sun shone on the western hills and highlighted a bird chirping in a tree outside the house.

A great day to remind me of the hope that God gives us, even in the face of pain and suffering.

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Here's the full quote from the Odyssey which appears several times, including the first line of Book II:

Ἡμος δ᾽ ἠριγενεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἡώς
When the early born one, the rosy-fingered dawn appeared,